Racket-press.



WLA. JOHNSON.

RAOKBT PRESS.

APPLICATION rmm uma mo.

. 978,455, Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

WILLIAM A. JOHNSON, F YONKERS, NEW YORK.

BACKET-PRESS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec, 13, 1910,

Application filed January 3, 1910. Serial No. 536,045.

. Racket-Presses, of which the following is a specification.

My inventlon relates to presses or frames for holding lawn tennis rackets or the like in shape when not 1n use, and its object is to provide a simple and efficient device for this purpose which has decided advantages over those heretofore used.

I will describe my invention in the following specification and point out the novel features thereof in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View of a lawn tennis racket with one of my improved presses applied thereto. In Fig. 2 I have shown the press in plan view with its parts folded together. Fig. 3 shows the same parts in elevation. Fig. 4 is a detail of a clamping arrangement which forms a part of this apparatus. Fig. 5 is a sectional transverse view, on an enlarged scale, of one of the arms of the inner member. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the same part.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the figures.

10 designates an inner member which is made with two flat bow-like arms 11 joined together at their ends as at 12.

13 are stiffening ribs running along the inner surfaces of these arms at right-angles to their flat surfaces. At the ends of these arms are engaging surfaces let which are beveled or inclined both longitudinally and laterally; that is, these surfaces are beveled so that they are slightly farther apart at their edges 15 than they are at their opposite edges, and they are so inclined that they are closer together near the ends of the arms than they are nearer the center of the device. Their edges are also rounded off, and the inner ends of the engaging surfaces run down gradually to the inner surfaces of the arms so that there are no abrupt shoulders. The inner surfaces of the end portions 12 are also cut away on lines oblique to the axes of the members as shoWn in the drawings.

is an outer member somewhat similar to the inner member. Its arms are designated by 21 and are joined together at their ends as at 22. These outer members need no stiffening rib. The outer member is also provided with cam-like engaging surfaces 2 f which are further apart at their edges 2'." and at those portions which are nearer the center of the device. The ends of the arnis of this outer member are preferably farther apart than are those of the inner member for convenience in folding the members together when not in use. But the distance between the engaging surfaces of both members is the same, for, as will appear hereinafter, these surfaces are proportioned to fit the rim or string frame of the racket. The two members are pivoted together at or near their centers at and 31. The pivot at 31 is constructed with a square shoulder 32 which fits into a square hole in the arm 11 of the inner member. Outside of this shoulder the pivot is circular, 33, where it passes through the arm 21 of the outer member, and outside of this it is threaded as at 34. A threaded locking clamp is upon this portion of the pivot, and the outer end of the -pivot may be headed as shown at 36 to prevent the removal of this clamp. A washer 37 is preferably interposed between the clamp and the part 21.

It is essential that lawn tennis rackets and similar articles be kept from warping and twisting out of shape, and heretofore heavy frames, clamps or presses have been used for this purpose. These more or less clumsy arrangements decrease the portability of these rackets as they add greatly to their size and weight. In order to remove the objectionable features of such presses as have heretofore been known I have invented the device above described. Then the press is not in use it may be folded up so that it occupies but little space. Its use on a racket is illustrated in Fig. 1. The racket is slipped into the press when its two members are partly folded together. Then the members are spread apart until their engaging surfaces 14 and 24: come in contact with the rim of the racket, onto which they are then forced. The peculiar shape and proportions of these engaging surfaces are such that they will fit rims of different sizes and shapes. When the frame is thus forced onto the frame of the racket the clamp may be rotated to lock the two members together. The racket is thus held perfectly flat by means of a device which is light in weight and neat in appearance, and which takes so little room that the racket with a press on it may be placed within an ordinary cover or case if desired.

I sometimes cover the ends of each member and its cam-like engaging surfaces with leather or other soft material as shown at 16 and 26 in Fig. 1 so that the rim of the racket will not become scratched even by repeated use.

It is obvious that the press may be readily removed by loosening the clamp and revers ing the manipulations above described. The members of the press may be built up of several pieces fastened together, or each of the members may be made integral as described. The members are preferably constructed of some light metal such as McAdamite or bronze, or any other material of sufficient rigidity may be used if desired.

The bow shape of the arms gives the members the stiffness of a truss, and as they are secured together at their ends and are also connected with one another centrally, the rigidity of either member will be imparted to the other member.

What I claim is 1. A racket press comprising an outer double bow-like member, an inner double bowlike member, a stiffening rib for said inner member, and pivoted connections between said members; both of said members being constructed with cam-like engaging surfaces at each end thereof adapted to fit over the rim of a racket, and a clamp for locking said members together.

2. A racket press comprising a pair of rigid members centrally pivoted together, and cam-like engaging surfaces near the ends of said members inclined transversely and longitudinally to the members.

3. A racket press comprising an outer double bow-like member, an inner double bowlike member, a stiffening rib for said inner member, and pivoted connections between said members; both of said members being constructed with cam-like engaging surfaces at each end thereof adapted to fit over the rim of a racket, a covering for said surfaces, and a clamp for locking said members together.

4. A racket press comprising a pair of double bow-like rigid members centrally pivoted together, cam-like engaging surfacesv near the ends of said members inclined transversely and longitudinally to the mem bers, and a clamp for locking the members together.

5. A racket press comprising an outer clouble bow-like member, an inner double bowlike member, a stiffening rib for said inner member, and pivoted connections between said members; both of said members being constructed with a pair of cam-like engaging surfaces at the ends thereof, inclined toward each other both transversely and laterally and adapted to fit over the rim of a racket.

6. A racket press comprising an outer double bow-like member, an inner double bowlike member, a stiffening rib for said inner member, and pivoted connections between said members; both of said members being constructed with a pair of cam-like engaging surfaces at the ends thereof, inclined toward each other both transversely and laterally and adapted to fit over the rim of a racket, a covering for said surfaces, and a clamp for locking said members together.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM A. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

LEONORA GIBsoN, ELLA TUCI'I. 

